solar thermal collector system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a solar thermal collector frame system ( 1 ) comprising at least a plate module ( 2 ), a start module ( 3 ) and a stop module ( 4 ), wherein the plate module ( 2 ) comprises a frame plate ( 5 ) having two opposing first side edges ( 6 ) and two opposing second side edges ( 7 ), and a spacing element ( 8 ) I arranged along each of the first side edges ( 6 ) such that a top-plate ( 9 ) may be mounted in parallel to the frame plate ( 5 ) at a predetermined distance; the second side edges ( 7 ) are complementary such that at least two plate modules ( 2 ) may be mounted against each other along said second longitudinal edges; and the start module ( 3 ) and the stop module ( 4 ) are mountable along a second longitudinal edge ( 7 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns solar thermal collectors, and morespecifically a module-based solar thermal collector frame, a solarthermal collector comprising said frame, and a method for installing orassembly of a solar thermal collector frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A solar thermal collector is commonly made up of a solar thermalcollector frame, a solar heat absorber installed in said frame, and anabove-arranged clear top-plate.

The effect of a solar thermal collector is restricted by the size of thearea it covers. Most of the solar thermal collectors presently on themarket are pre-assembled in a factory and transported to the buildingsite for mounting. These premade solar thermal collectors often covers arelatively small area since they would be very heavy and difficult tohandle if they where produced in a large format. As an example offurther potential disadvantages of large premade solar thermalcollectors it is referred to Aventa, which is a supplier/producer of asolar thermal collector which also acts as a roof covering. The height(or length) of these solar thermal collectors has to be decided duringthe production at the factory, and it will naturally cause significantproblems if, for instance, any of the components are damaged duringtransportation since it will take an extended amount of time to producea new collector.

ASV Solar is a module-based solar thermal collector system which avoidsmany of the problems connected to solar thermal collectors which arepremade on a factory. In this system the solar thermal collector frameis assembled by use of six different solar thermal collector framemodules. This solar thermal collector system may cover a small or largearea and functions technically as a roof covering replacing roofcovering tiles or other roof covering materials. Even if said solarthermal collector system solves some of the problems connected to solarthermal collectors which are premade at a factory, the system results incomplicated logistics related to production and delivery due to thelarge number of different solar thermal collector frame modules.

There is consequently a need for a solar thermal collector system whichavoids the disadvantages of factory-assembled solar thermal collectorsand which at the same time avoids at least some of the disadvantages ofthe known module-based solutions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a module-based solar thermal collectorframe system, a solar thermal collector based on said system and amethod for assembly of a solar thermal collector frame. The invention isdefined by the appended claims, and in the following:

In one aspect, the present invention provides a solar thermal collectorframe system comprising at least a plate module, a start module and astop module, wherein

-   -   the plate module comprises a frame plate having two opposing        first side edges and two opposing second side edges, and a        spacing element is arranged along each of the first side edges        such that a top-plate may be mounted parallel to the frame plate        at a determined distance;    -   the second side edges are complementary, or equal, such that at        least two plate modules may be mounted against each other along        said second side edges; and    -   the start module and the stop module are shaped to be mounted        along a second longitudinal edge.

In one embodiment of the solar thermal collector system according to theinvention, one of the spacing elements on the plate module comprisesthrough-bores for collector pipes.

In one embodiment of the solar thermal collector system according to theinvention the start module comprises a longitudinal element suitable forhaving a transition plate mounted thereupon, wherein the transitionplate is preferably suitable for providing a transition between thelongitudinal element and a roof covering.

In one embodiment of the solar thermal collector system according to theinvention, the start module has a transverse cross-section beingsubstantially L- or V-shaped.

In one embodiment of the solar thermal collector system according to theinvention the stop module comprises a longitudinal element having atransition plate mounted thereupon, preferably the transition plate issuitable for providing a transition between the longitudinal element anda roof covering.

In one embodiment of the solar thermal collector system according to theinvention the stop module comprises a longitudinal element which aftermounting along a second side edge of a plate module has a contactsurface which face away from, extend over, and is parallel to the frameplate, wherein the distance between the contact surface and the frameplate is such that a top-plate will be in contact with said contactsurface after being mounted.

In one embodiment of the solar thermal collector system according to theinvention the spacing element has a projection comprising a contactsurface which face away from, extend over, and is parallel to the frameplate, the distance between the contact surface and the frame plate issuch that a top-plate will be in contact with said contact surface afterbeing mounted.

In one embodiment the solar thermal collector system according to theinvention comprises multiple plate modules. The term “multiple” isintended to mean that the solar thermal collector system according tothe invention may comprise any number of plate modules more than one,i.e. at least two.

In another aspect the present invention provides a solar thermalcollector comprising a solar thermal collector frame system according toany of the embodiments described above, comprising a collector platearranged on the frame plate, at least one collector pipe arranged on thecollector plate, and a top-plate.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a method of mountinga solar thermal collector frame, comprising the following steps:

-   -   arranging a first plate module on a roof, wherein the plate        module comprises a frame plate having two opposing first side        edges and two opposing second side edges, and wherein a spacing        element is arranged along each of the first side edges, such        that a top-plate may be mounted parallel to the frame plate at a        determined distance;    -   arranging a start module along the second side edge which is        turned in the downward direction of the slope of the roof (or        face away from the roof ridge); and    -   arranging a stop module along the second side edge which is        turned in the upward direction of the slope of the roof.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises thestep of:

-   -   arranging a second plate module on the roof such that one of the        second side edges of said module is arranged adjacent to one of        the second side edges of the first plate module. Further, the        spacing elements of the first and the second plate module is        aligned when one of the second side edges of the second plate        module is arranged adjacent to one of the second side edges of        the first plate module.

In the context of the present invention, the terms start module and stopmodule denote longitudinal elements suitable to constitute a side edgeof a solar thermal collector frame after assembly. The start module, thestop module, the frame plate, and the spacing elements will, togetherwith the top plate, delimit a space/volume, in which a collector plateand collector pipes are mounted.

In the context of the present invention, the term <<top plate>> is mentto denote a plate capable of letting sunlight pass through it. The topplate is preferably completely transparent (crystal-clear) such that theshort-waved sunlight will pass through the “crystal-clear” top plate andhit the collector plate. This results in the transformation of theshort-waved sunlight to long-waved heat radiation. This heat remains inthe space/volume delimited by the start module, the stop module, theframe plate, the spacing elements and the top plate, and will heat theliquid in the collector pipes and the layer of air between the collectorplate and the top plate. The top plate may be manufactured in variousmaterials, preferably transparent polymers having suitable mechanicproperties. Preferably, the top plate is manufactured in polycarbonate.In a particularly preferred embodiment, the top plate is 5-7 mm thick,and is preferably a corrugated plate. The advantage of having athickness of 5-7 mm is that the top plate is easy to adapt at theconstruction site by for instance a utility knife, and the whole solarthermal collector frame may consequently be adapted at the constructionsite. In many solar thermal collectors it is common to use temperedglass. Top plates in tempered glass may also be used in the solarthermal collector system according to the invention, but thedisadvantage of tempered glass is that its heavy and may not be adaptedat the construction site.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a known module-based solar thermal collector system.

FIG. 2 shows a module-based solar thermal collector frame systemaccording to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a module-based solar thermal collector frame systemaccording to the invention comprising multiple plate modules.

FIG. 4 shows details of the start module of the solar thermal collectorsystem.

FIG. 5 shows details of the stop module of the solar thermal collectorsystem.

FIG. 6 shows a solar thermal collector frame according to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows details of the stop module in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows details of the start element in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows details of the start element in a fully assembled solarthermal collector according to the invention.

FIG. 10 shows details of the stop module in a fully assembled solarthermal collector according to the invention.

FIG. 11 shows a module-based solar thermal collector frame systemaccording to the invention featuring mounted collector pipes andcollector plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A known module-based solar thermal collector frame system is shown inFIG. 1. This system comprises six different modules; two stop modules (Rstop and L stop), two start modules (R start and L start), and twointermediate modules (R and L). Both the planning/design of solarthermal collector systems, the logistics connected to production/stocketc., as well as assembly of these at the construction site, iscomplicated by the large number of different modules required for acomplete solar thermal collector plate.

A solar thermal collector frame system 1 according to the invention isshown in FIG. 2. The system comprises only three modules; a plate module2, a start module 3, and a stop module 4. The plate module 2 comprises aframe plate 5, and has a pair of opposing first side edges 6, and a pairof opposing second side edges 7. Spacing elements 8 are arranged alongthe first side edges. During assembly of a complete solar thermalcollector, a top-plate 9, se FIGS. 9 and 10, will be arranged upon thesespacing elements such that it will be parallel to the frame plate at agiven distance. The distance between the frame plate and the top plateis decided by the height of the part of the spacing element, theprojection 8 a, which is in contact with the top plate.

A solar thermal collector frame system comprising multiple plate modules2 is shown in FIG. 3. All the plate modules 2 are equal and haveopposing second side edges 7 which are complementary such that the platemodules 2 may be mounted closely adjacent to each other along said sideedges 7. In this way, the multiple frame plates 5 form a unitarysurface. The number of plate modules 2, and consequently the area of thefinal solar thermal collector frame, or the total surface, may easily bechanged according to need.

Details of the frame module 2, the start module 3 and the stop module 4are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The start module 3, FIG. 4, is made up of alongitudinal element having a transverse cross-section. Thecross-section, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of thelongitudinal element, is substantially L-shaped. The start modulethereby provides a down-step at one side of the completed solar thermalcollector frame. The start module is mounted on the side edge of thesolar thermal collector frame which is turned downwards when mounted,for instance, on a roof. The stop module 4 comprises a first 4 a and asecond 4 b longitudinal element wherein the cross-section perpendicularto the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal element issubstantially I-shaped having two broad sides and two narrow sides. Thefirst 4 a and second 4 b longitudinal elements are assembled such thatthe first longitudinal element 4 a forms a side piece, wherein one ofits broad sides may be arranged along a second side edge 7 of a framemodule 2. The second longitudinal element 4 b is mounted on the firstlongitudinal element, such that the second longitudinal element 4 bextends over the frame plate 5 of the frame module. After mounting ofthe stop module 4, one broad side of the second longitudinal element 4b, i.e. the surface 4 c which is turned away from the frame plate 5,will be at the same level as the projection 8 a of the spacing element8.

A fully assembled solar thermal collector frame according to theinvention is shown in FIG. 6-8. In FIG. 7, the stop module 4 is shown inmore detail. The second longitudinal element 4 b of the stop module isshown arranged over the frame plate at the same level (or height) as theprojection 8 a. A section of a top-plate 9 is shown arranged on thebroad side (i.e. surface 4 c) of the second longitudinal element, whichis turned away from the frame plate, and the projection 8 a of thespacing element.

A solar thermal collector comprising a solar thermal collector frameaccording to the invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9 shows a start module 3 and a first side edge 6 of a plate module2. An underlying transition plate 10 is mounted on the start module 3and forms a transition between the solar thermal collector and anexisting roof covering. The underlying transition plate 10 is arrangedbelow a top-plate 9. The top plate 9 is made of a transparent (crystalclear) material as described above, and is kept in place by theoverlying transition plate 11. The top plate is also kept in place by aside transition plate 12 which, similar to the underlying transitionplate 10, forms a transition to an existing roof covering.

FIG. 10 shows a stop module 4 and a first side edge 6 of a plate module2. The transparent top plate 9 is kept in place by side transition plate12 and top transition plate 13. The top transition plate 13 ensures thatwater from an overlying roof covering will flow over the solar thermalcollectors.

FIG. 11 shows a plate module 2 having a collector plate 14 and collectorpipes 15 mounted thereon. One of the spacing elements have through-bores16 for the collector pipes 15. During assembly/mounting of a solarthermal collector according to the invention, multiple plate modules 2may be mounted together along their second side edges, and collectorplates and collector pipes arranged on the frame plate. A start module 3is mounted on the first side edge 6 which is turned in the downwardssloping direction at the site of assembly (for example a roof) and astop module 4 is mounted on the first side edge 6 which is turned in theupwards sloping direction at the site of assembly. The underlyingtransition plate 10 may then be mounted on the start module 3 before thetop plate 9 is arranged on the projections 8 a of the spacing elementsand the second longitudinal element 4 b of the stop module 4. The topplate 9 is further kept in place by mounting the overlying transitionplate 11, side transition plate 12 and top transition plate 13. Inaddition, the transition plates ensure a transition to the roofcovering.

1. A solar thermal collector frame system comprising at least a platemodule, a start module and a stop module, wherein the plate modulecomprises a frame plate having two opposing first side edges and twoopposing second side edges, and a spacing element arranged along each ofthe first side edges, the spacing element formed such that a top-platemay be mounted in parallel to the frame plate at a predetermineddistance; the second side edges are complementary such that at least twoplate modules may be mounted against each other along said secondlongitudinal edges; and the start module and the stop module aremountable along a second longitudinal edge.
 2. A solar thermal collectorframe system according to claim 1, wherein one of the spacing elementsof the plate module comprises through-bores for collector pipes.
 3. Asolar thermal collector frame system according to claim 1 or 2, whereinthe start module comprises a longitudinal element having a transversecross-section suitable for having a transition plate mounted thereon,preferably the transition plate is suitable for providing a transitionbetween the start module and a roof covering.
 4. A solar thermalcollector frame system according to claim 3, wherein the start modulehas a cross-section, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of thelongitudinal element, which is substantially L- or V-shaped.
 5. A solarthermal collector frame system according to claim 1, wherein the stopmodule comprises a longitudinal element having a transversecross-section suitable for having a transition plate mounted thereon,preferably the transition plate is suitable for providing a transitionbetween the stop module and a roof covering.
 6. A solar thermalcollector frame system according to claim 1, wherein the stop modulecomprises a longitudinal element having a transverse cross-section whichafter mounting along a second side edge has a contact surface which faceaway from, extend over, and is parallel to, the frame plate, and thedistance between the surface and the frame plate is such that atop-plate will be in contact with said contact surface after mounting.7. A solar thermal collector frame system according to claim 1, whereinthe spacing element has a projection which comprises a contact surfacewhich face away from, extend over, and is parallel to the frame plate,the distance between the contact surface and the frame plate is suchthat a top-plate will be in contact with said contact surface aftermounting.
 8. A solar thermal collector frame system according to claim1, comprising multiple plate modules.
 9. A solar thermal collectorcomprising a solar thermal collector frame system according to claim 1,comprising a collector plate arranged on the frame plate, at least onecollector pipe arranged on the collector plate, and a top-plate.
 10. Amethod of mounting a solar thermal collector frame, comprising thefollowing steps: arranging a first plate module on a roof, wherein theplate module comprises a frame plate having two opposing first sideedges and two opposing second side edges, and a spacing element arrangedalong each of the first side edges, such that a top-plate may be mountedparallel to the frame plate at a predetermined distance; arranging astart module along the second side edge which is turned in the downwarddirection of the slope of the roof; and arranging a stop module alongthe second side edge which is turned in the upwards direction of theslope of the roof
 11. A method according to claim 9, comprising the stepof: arranging a second plate module on the roof such that one of thesecond side edges of said module is arranged adjacent to one of thesecond side edges of the first plate module.